29/7/08
Blue is the colour
After a very challenging few months which saw the Hill team suffer a blown engine and major bodywork & chassis damage mixed in with some low points scoring finishes means Chris has been moved in to the Blue Grade closer again to the front of the grid. Chris will still be starting about half way down the grid but is optimistic in getting the car dialled in and bringing the 44 car home with some good finishes and hopefully with no damage.

On that note the team would like to thank Andy Owen (2ltr Hot Rod #77) for his help in repairing the all the damage and getting the car back into shape and ready to race again.

8/7/08
Engine woes a big setback for #44 team
It was a difficult month of June for Chris as the car was plagued with engine problems. It all began when the car overheated on a scorching hot day at Aldershot on 8th June forcing Chris to pull off in the final. With a bigger radiator fitted the car was going strong again in practice at the following meeting at the Rushmoor Arena but sadly the engine lost lost nearly all power half way through heat 1. The decision was  reluctantly made to load the car up and head back home.
A replacement engine was purchased  shortly after which took the next 3 evenings to fit. (Well we are novices :-)! )
After a few teething problems at Bovingdon the car is ready for its 2nd trip to the Arlington raceway, which hopefully will be better than the first one.

3/6/08
Seeing Red
National Points chart no 5 has now been released and it has been revealed that Chris will have an even harder job trying to find victory lane as he has been put in the red grade with some of the bigger names in Rookie Rod racing. This will mean Chris will start almost half a lap down to the white graders in each race and will have to work his way past all the blue, yellow and white graders in order to win races. This will be new territory as Chris has only had a few meetings where he has started from the yellows but due to consistent finishes and a win along the way, a red roof beckons. Time to go out and buy some red spray paint!

30/4/08
Chris scores first career victory at Bovingdon!!!
With 6 races under his belt, Chris went to Bovingdon thinking that 3 top 10s would be a successful day. Instead of that Chris surpassed all expectations by taking the chequered flag in the first race of the day to record his first ever victory in Rookie Rods in only his 7th race. Chris had to endure a complete restart and 2 yellow flags but managed to lead away every time and hang on to the lead for the remainder of the 20 lap race.
Full report on the 'Race Reports' page...

20/4/08
Building Success with Parkers!!!
Chris and the team are delighted to welcome on board Parker Building Supplies as new sponsors on the #44 Rookie Rod. Parker Building Supplies first opened its doors in 1984 with just 1 branch in Uckfield, East Sussex and has since grown to become the leading builders merchants in the south east with 11 branches now all over Kent and Sussex which includes a special Joinery Centre and Kitchen showroom that have recently opened in Hailsham, East Sussex as well as the all new Parkers Premier Paving Centres at the Uckfield, Hassocks, Tonbridge, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath Branches.
Parkers offer great deals on a wide range of products including Bricks, Cement, Timber, Aggregates, Tools, Powertools and much much more.
To find out more about Parkers and the wide range of products they have to offer log onto their website www.parkerbs.com

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2/4/08
Wimbledon 6/4/08
Chris takes to the track for his second meeting this Sunday at Plough Lane's Wimbledon Stadium in London where the Rookie Rods share the nights racing with the Superstox who will be contesting their London Championship meeting and the Bangers.
The team are ready and raring to go once again after a good first outing at Bovingdon on Good Friday and Chris will be in the thick of the action this time, starting at the front of the grid from the white grade for the first time.
'After coming here as a spectator for many years since I was a kid It will certainly be a strange feeling as I drive up through the gate and out onto the track and see Wimbledon from the other side of the fence but it will be excellent to get to drive the track that many of my racing heroes have raced on in years gone by.'
With 30 other cars booked in it certainly will make for an interesting meeting, avoiding the car shredding post and wire fence will be one key to survival, along with trying to avoid significant contact with the other cars.

Here is the list of drivers booked in for Sunday...

Rookie Rods ~ 31.
8 Terry Gray
13 George Martin
29 Steve Barnes
36 Andrew Hitching
44 Chris Hill
50 Stephen Kirby
130 Lee Rawlings
136 Colin Sadler
140 Reece Jones
144 Lee Evans
153 James Hitchen
164 Jason Warren
176 Andrew Hedger
177 Noel Whinney
180 Mark Renwick
200 Steve Wright
212 John Smith
222 Martin Mennehan
237 Lee Walker
251 Lee Ribbans
267 Dan Vick
326 Tom Longhurst
352 Jamie Renwick
418 Daniel Barkham
475 Paul Kaynes
479 Sean Riddle
515 Sam Anderson
561 Keith Wickens
609 Keith Wareham
636 Glen Chandler
850 Stefan Miller
 

 

 

24/3/08
First day at School
Chris and the team had a good day out at the Bovingdon meeting on Good Friday. Mission accomplished for the first meeting as Chris brought the car home in all 3 races and got faster as the day wore on! See the Race Reports page to read all about it and check the Fixtures page for a link to the pictures gallery.

17/2/08
True Colours
The car looks much more 'alive' now than it did a week ago. Many thanks to Dave Baldwin (aka Graphics by Dave) for supplying most of the stickers.

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10/2/08
Hill gears up for action packed 2008!!
It is all systems go in the hill camp as they get ready for a very hectic inaugural season of Rookie Rod racing.
After acquiring the ex #348 Vauxhall nova previously driven by Danny England, Chris Hill and dad Mick have spent the winter months preparing the car ready for the 2008 Season. A full report on this will be posted here shortly and can be found in the Feb/Mar edition of 'Wheelspin' magazine which is on sale now at the track shops for just £2.50.

10/2/08
Chris recently enjoyed a very successful testing day at Arena Essex. It was the first time he had ever driven the car and he took to the 1/4 mile oval like a duck to water and was soon at home and very comfortable with the car. He cant wait to get back in the car for a further testing session in February. Be sure to read all about Chris' exploits at the Arena and much more in the April edition of 'Wheelspin' magazine which will be on sale at the tracks from March the 21st.

TESTING PICTURES
(click to enlarge)

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